Community First: Harnessing Change and Building Connections is the 2003 update to the New River Valley’s Vision 2020 strategic plan. Citizens of the region identified strengths and challenges facing the New River Valley and developed a plan to enhance their community through projects and programming over the next five years. The citizens of the New River Valley have put their ideas and plans for action into a community context that can be shared and moved forward.

Six vision areas were identified to guide this plan’s development:
· Leadership
· Natural and Cultural Resources
· Education and Training
· Economic Development
· Human Resources
· Physical Infrastructure

Within these vision areas, needs and opportunities were determined and melded to create an inventory of potential programs and projects that could make Community First a reality.

Fully realizing Community First can be achieved by Harnessing Change and Building Connections within and outside the New River Valley. The region is poised to capture opportunities for growth and development. This document is a powerful tool for getting things done, but without sustained commitment to the vision within, it loses value. The projects and programs need champions and investors.

The above graphic shows three supporting components of Community First. Organizing Community, Corporate Development, and Infrastructure serve to categorize the five-year projects within this plan.

There are risks and hurdles along this visionary path and there will undoubtedly be disappointments as we reach for these lofty visions. There are also clear opportunities for investment and each project and program has a lead agency or team of agencies prepared to guide it through implementation. Join Community First by investing in the vision and by being part of the successes strategically developed for the New River Valley.